Abstract:

This research investigated the possibilities of rendering information
services to rural communities through the use of Web technology. The
research endeavoured to establish the role that institutions of higher
learning can play to provide this service as part of their community
outreach function. Research indicated that in other countries such as the
U.S.A and Canada universities were involved in using their Internet
infrastructure to connect rural communities to the information
super highway. To provide a scientific basis for a local model, an
investigation into needs of rural communities was launched. A further
survey was conducted on the different roles that universities were
playing. A follow-up survey was conducted to establish how other
countries were using this technology to render information services to
rural communities.
Following these surveys, an investigation into one of the departments at
the University of the North (UNIN), namely the Aquaculture Research
Unit (ARU), was conducted to have a clear understanding of the outreach
projects currently provided by this department. Based on these
investigations a local model was designed that could be used by UNIN to
provide information services to rural communities in the Northern
Province. Other institutions of higher learning in South Africa could also
adopt and adapt this model for use in their own provinces. The final part
of this research provided ideas on how this initiative of rendering
information services to rural areas could be pursued further by other
research projects.